Imagine a plan to end hunger in Colorado. In our nation. Around the world. Each of us, as part of the greater ELCA community working with its ecumenical partners, can make this a "Mission Possible". The Rocky Mountain Synod Hunger Network, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado and the Global Mission Committee are co-sponsoring a second Ending Hunger Summit. This year's event will take place on Saturday, October 27, at Bethany Lutheran Church (Cherry Hills Village) and will focus on the GOOD NEWS that ending hunger is really possible if we each take concrete steps to change ourselves, our communities and our world!

It is not too late to register for this year's Hunger Summit. Please contact Willie Hobbs at the Synod office to register. You can reach Willie by email at whobbs@rmselca.org or by phone at 303- 777-6700 (800-525-0462). Please go to the Rocky Mountain Synod's website, to find information about the Hunger Summit. We are still accepting registrations and you may register online and pay at the event.

One final reminder: Hunger Summit participants are encouraged to bring their own coffee/tea cups and/or water bottles. Let eco-justice thrive!

Hunger Summit youth track is on track! Register today!

A special "youth track" is planned for the Hunger Summit on October 27. Youth and adults will participate together in the opening, the meals, and worship. The rest of the day they will have their own activities and speakers from Global Mission and Urban Servant Corps, including a letter-writing campaign. It's a great chance for youth to feel empowered to make a difference! Youth must register for the event. Online registration is at www.rmselca.org/hungereventreg.htm. It's the same time, same date, and same cost. If you have questions, contact Kayla at 303-617-9884 or kayla@lordofthehills.org.

Lay Male and Female Nominees Needed for the Candidacy Committee
Nominees are welcome for both a lay male and a lay female for two Candidacy Committee openings. Qualities needed include: Ability to listen, discern and engage in theological reflection with candidates for ordained, consecrated and commissioned ministry. Familiarity with Lutheran theological tradition and congregational life. An understanding of and ability to recognize the qualities needed for public ministry and leadership. Ability to attend four, two-day meetings per year which are typically held on week-days. (Jan, Apr, Aug, and Nov.)

The upcoming vacancies are from the front range of Colorado, but nominees from all conferences may be considered. Please send the name and contact information on nominees, along with a brief descriptive paragraph, to Bishop Allan Bjornberg, allan_bjornberg@rmselca.org, or Madelyn Busse, mbusse@rmselca.org by November 1. Please call Madelyn Busse at 303 777 6700 (800-525-0462) with any questions or to discuss possible nominees.

Where in the world did RMS folks reach out this summer?
We know that a lot of congregations were planning mission trips, service projects, and immersions. We'd like to highlight those trips and have created an easy form for you to click and complete to submit info about your trip. Please share your stories!

Video Contest:
How to Spot a Lutheran in the West
Two minute videos that capture the spirit of our "Lutheran Identity" in the Rocky Mountain Synod are to be submitted by April 1, 2008. The video may be a commercial, skit, story, song, art piece or any other means and will be judged in the areas of Lutheran identity, evangelism, diversity, variety of ages involved, and creativity. Prizes will be announced at Synod Assembly in May. First place will receive $1,000, second $600, third $250, fourth $150 (made out to the sponsoring congregation or ministry group.) The prize money is provided by a grant from ELCA Synodical Relations in support of communicating Lutheran identity within the synod. Download the details!

The Middle School Youth Gathering Registration is Underway!
The Junior High/Middle School Youth Gathering will take place January 11-13, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Registration is now open! Be reminded that one adult must register for every four youth of the same gender. The "early bird" registration deadline is October 31 (and save $10 each!). Regular registration deadline is December 10.

The Planning Team is looking for someone to help with taking video and editing it during the weekend. Ideally, this person would help during large group to do some "live" video of the gathering participants and speakers to put up on the big screen for large group times.

Also, the planning team is looking for EMT's (emergency medical technicians) who can be present to help in case of emergency. In the past, the Gathering has been fortunate to have folks who were participating in the weekend activities, but this year the Team is looking for a couple of dedicated medical technicians or emergency nurses who could be available throughout the weekend. Please contact Kim Sandfort at kimclym@qwest.net if you or someone you know would be interested.

2007 NM Advocacy Conference is October 27
Plan now to attend the 2007 Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry-NM Advocacy Conference "Advocacy: Making a Difference" on Saturday, October 27 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church (211 Jefferson NE) in Albuquerque. The day will begin with registration at 8:30 am and conclude after lunch at 1:30 pm.

The conference is open to anyone interested in learning more about advocacy and the issues for which LOGM-NM advocates. Sen. Dede Feldman will be the lunch speaker. Sen. Feldman is chair of the interim Legislative Health & Human Services Committee and the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

Breakout session topics will include basic advocacy skills, how to understand the state budget, health care, housing, hunger, and other topics. The cost is $20 per person and includes lunch. To register, email Ruth at rh@logmnm.org with your name, address and phone number or call 505.984.8005.

Vision, Passion, Action Blog
A "blog" is short for "web log" and it is a way to invite conversation about topics and issues. The new RMS weblog is designed to facilitate conversation about the Vision, Passion, Action process. The address of the RMS blog is www.rmselca.blogspot.com. If you post a comment please include your name and congregation. If you would like to post an entry, send your entry to kmueller@rmselca.org.

"Map Quest for the Soul"
2007 Case Lectures at Bethany Lutheran Church
On Reformation weekend, Friday evening, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday morning, October 27 at 9:00 a.m., the Bethany Foundation has invited an exciting Catholic scholar to lead Bethany's Case Lectures in 2007. Father Patrick McMahon divides his time between being the President of a Carmelite Institute in Rome and a seminary Professor at Washington Theological Union in Washington D.C. His PhD is in History from New York University. He will also be preaching on Sunday morning, Oct. 28. Please join them for this event.

The Lutheran Chorale Presents "By Scripture, Grace and Faith Alone"
Join the Chorale as they sing and hear music expressing the banner of reformation. The Chorale will present two concerts on Sunday, October 28. The first will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 6770 Monaco Street in Commerce City, Colorado. The second one will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 800 Sherman Street in Fort Morgan, Colorado. For ticket and other information, please visit the Lutheran Chorale's website: www.thelutheranchorale.org

"Considering Your Call"
Wartburg's next "Considering Your Call" Conference on Ministry is November 10-12, 2007. This event is for individuals and their spouses, or significant others, who are considering vocational choices and a possible call to ordained or lay ministry. Wartburg Seminary welcomes college students as well as those who are contemplating a career change. It offers the opportunity to examine preparation for ministry, review curriculum, get a feel for seminary life, and to meet with students, faculty, and staff. Tours of the Dubuque community and its schools are also available to conference attendees.

Housing and meals are included in the $35.00 per adult registration fee. Registration begins at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10, with activities beginning at 1:00 p.m. The conference concludes Monday, November 12, at noon. To register or get more information about the Conference, please check out the Wartburg Seminary website. A printable .pdf version of the brochure and registration form are available here.

A Sabbath Invitation
Come to a Called Back to the Well Clergy Day Apart. All ministers are invited to a monthly day apart at the Norbertine Center in Albuquerque. The next Clergy Sabbath will be Monday, November 19, continuing the 3rd Monday of each month. The retreat will begin at 9:30 am and end by 4:00 pm. Cost for the day is $25 and includes lunch. You can pay by cash, check, or credit card, and you can choose to attend one day or all of the days. There will be some time to gather as a group and time for you to spend in silence. Bring your journal. An RSVP would be appreciated. Contact Sue Joiner for more information: sjoiner@samaritancc.com or call 505-332- 8020.

Thank You from LSS of Utah
Leslie Whited Vance, CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Utah, wants to thank you for your great support for the grand opening of Worlds of Art Shoppe at LSS of Utah. Over 60 people attended the grand event, and were said to have a truly marvelous time. Jose Bonilla (Royal Heritage) and Matthew Munn (Hew-Mun) celebrated the sounds of world music and experimental sound. Meredith Franck, textile artist and compassionate social activist in the Utah community, celebrated her birthday at the event with cake, traditional Spanish birthday songs and gifts.

The Worlds of Art Center promotes fair trade for local artists and is open for Holiday shopping Monday through Thursday, from noon to 8 pm (12-8) at Mill Square Building Suite 305 (1800 South West Temple, SLC). Refugee and asylee artists are given preference at the Shoppe. 31 Artists show their work at Worlds of Art with origins from 11 countries and 5 continents. The Shoppe encourages meaningful gifts and offers free gift wrapping, herbal tea, and coffee with biscotti when you stop by!

The next Gallery Stroll evening at LSS of Utah World's of Art Shoppe will be held on November 16, Friday, from 6-9 pm and November 17, Saturday from 2-8 pm. Wine, cheese, live poetry, and live music make this an event you'll want to stroll to and savor!

LifeLines is the newsletter of ELCA World Hunger and is published four times a year. Each issue features articles that tell the stories of how gifts of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal are making a difference locally and around the world. Articles span topics such as advocacy, HIV/AIDS, Millennium Development Goals, hunger in the United States, and new resources. Click here to download the latest issue of the newsletter, or request a paper copy by calling 800-638-3522, ext. 2764.

The Reverend Mark S. Hanson

Provided below are just a couple of resources to help you and/or your congregation with ideas of how to share your love for God in Christ Jesus with others. Your gifts help to strengthen local communities as well as the other various ministries of the ELCA around the world, and any size gift is a blessing. Please take a moment to review these two resources and consider how Christ's love might be shared with others. No wrapping required!

New ELCA Good Gifts Catalog Available
The new 2007-2009 ELCA Good Gifts Catalog was made available in July 2007 and can be ordered right now from Augsburg Fortress ( www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger ). Use this ''Giving Catalog of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America'' to have some fun doing serious good with your gift donations to ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal and other ELCA ministries. The catalog is free and so is shipping!

Winter 2007-2008 World Hunger Resource Packet
This packet samples new resources, including: ELCA Good Gifts catalog; World Hunger/ELCA Good Gifts card; God's Global Barnyard bookmark; God's Global Barnyard reproducible stories; Congregation Connections (Advent 2007 through Easter 2008); Ethiopian Nativity Christmas card; 40-day plus calendar; coin box, and more. While this packet will mail to every congregation at the end of October, you are welcome to request your own copy. Congregational leaders (worship, education, youth, social ministry, global mission, hunger) will find useful resources in the packet. You may order this item now and it will be shipped when it arrives. It is due to be released on Monday, November 5, 2007. You can order at the Augsburg Fortress website.

The World Hunger Office has had to purge its mailing list, so people who want to receive the quarterly LifeLines newsletter as well as the summer and winter Resource Packets need to send in a written form or go online to sign up!

Names are being gathered for the mailing of the 2007- -2008 ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet. If you want to begin or continue receiving a personal copy of the biannual hunger resource packets and the quarterly issues of LifeLines, the ELCA World Hunger newsletter, sign up as a hunger contact and go to www.elca.org/hunger/contact or call 800/638- 3522, ext. 2764. Do this by right away to ensure that you receive the winter resource packet.

All ELCA congregations and synods will continue to receive a copy of each World Hunger Resource Packet and every issue of LifeLines. For international addresses or to remove your name from the mailing list, call 800/638-3522, ext. 2764 or e-mail hunger@elca.org. We are rebuilding our mailing lists, so it is important that everyone who wants to receive these resources sign up as a contact. Do not worry that your name may already be on the mailing list--there's beauty in "merge and purge."

To receive a copy of the Winter Resource Packet, visit www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger or call 800/328-4648 and request AF order number 978-6- 0002-2003-7. The packets will be mailed at the end of October. A sign-up form may be downloaded ( www.elca.org/hunger/contact ) and printed out to include in mailings.

The above information was provided by:

Sue Edison-Swift
Communication Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal
800-638-3522, ext. 2969
FAX: 773-380-2406
www.elca.org/giving